Unexpected Criticism from Camille Paglia: ‘Simpering WH Press Sec. Robert Gibbs Should Be Fired for Dismissive Attitude of NYC Air Force One Flyover’
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on May 13, 2009
By Vicki McClure Davidson * Frugal Café Blog Zone
UPDATE, from Michelle Malkin: Look who’s hijacking 9/11
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Camille Paglia
Now if she would stop adoring POTUS long enough to ask what’s going on with him not releasing all the photos taken during the notorious flyover…
Paglia, who writes for Salon, is also the University Professor of Humanities and Media Studies at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She is well-known and respected for her non-conformist approach as a lesbian social critic and as a popular journalist and author.
Camille Paglia, Salon snippet:
…I am still steamed, however, by the blunders made by the administration in its first response to the colossally stupid buzzing of New York City two weeks ago by a presidential plane and military jet. Press secretary Robert Gibbs should have been fired for the simpering, shrugging way he dismissed queries about this outrageous and terrifying event, which had occurred many hours earlier. Acting as if the issue was as insignificant as Lindsay Lohan’s latest dating flap, Gibbs claimed to know nothing more than the few passing references he had seen to it on the Web.
Later on, the press was told that Obama was privately “infuriated,” but no official statement from him was released, and Obama himself was never made even briefly available for comment in person — which he could have easily done by a simple stroll in a hallway.
The Obama administration was caught with its pants down on this one. It seemed likely even then that Obama knew nothing about that obscenely wasteful photo op, and indeed a subsequent investigation led to the termination of the incompetent White House official who was responsible. However, Obama made a serious error in failing to speak to the public directly and promptly to allay anxieties and express his own displeasure. Forget 3 a.m. phone calls: This was a high noon, tough-it-out commander-in-chief moment! The erratic deployment of a military jet over a major U.S. city was ultimately Obama’s responsibility, and it was up to him to show that he knew it. Using layers of spokesmen to distance this issue made the president seem passive and uncertain about his own constitutional duties and powers.
Additional flyover reading:
Michelle Malkin: Obama’s transparency policy: Don’t let the sunshine in and Mission accomplished: Friday dump does the trick and Late Friday personnel dump: Scare Force One staffer “resigns”
Doug Powers, Michelle Malkin: Friday photo dump: Defense Dept. releases a pile of Manhattan fly-by pics, manifest
Behind Blue Lines: Camille Paglia: A Strange Servility Toward Big Government
John Romano, Big Hollywood: Is America Waking Up?
New York Local News, WCBSTV.com: ALL THAT FOR THIS! Flyover Photo Released; White House Releases Photo from Frightening Flyover in Lower Manhattan; Official Resigns Over Embarrassing Incident
Jeffrey Jena, Big Hollywood: Air Force One, Flaps Up!
Unequal Time: Single NYC flyover photo made public; WH Military Office Chief resigns; FOIA still in process
Frugal Café Blog Zone: Enough of the Nonsense & Secrecy, Mr. President: Journalist Michelle Malkin Files ‘Freedom of Information Act’ Requests for Public Records on NYC Flyover and Military Office Director Louis Caldera Resigns: Thrown under the Obama Bus… or Out the Air Force One Door
Law Day: Who Was In Air Force One???
fiery dog: Obamas Join Mile-High Club
P.U.M.A.: White House Releases Pictures of Air Force One Buzzing NYC…
Conservative Thoughts and Profundity: 100 Days of Reckless Photo-Op Hubris
Radio Vice Online: Air Force One in Manhattan – Carbon pollution winner? Update: How much did this cost?
From The Pen: Finger in Scare Force One Photos Prompts Obama Middle Finger
Popgun’s World: Transparency in Obama’s Government
Northern Thoughts And Reflections: The Man Without A Clue; President freaks out city for photo op
Jim Blazsik: Terror in New York – Obama will not release photo op pictures
Steven Crowder, Big Hollywood: Lonewolf Diaries: Time to Body Check Obama
The Lonely Conservative: Was this worth all the fuss?
Another Rovian Conspiracy: The Stupid. It Hurts!
Political Crave: Obama: Taking The Responsibility To Give Blame
Peace and Freedom Promises: White House to Release Photo From New York Flyover
About the author
We’re not even into this debacle for six months yet, and already the thread of common sense is showing itself.
Even people that I talk to that voted for this communist are regretting it.
Some, not all.
My mother-in-law still thinks he’s great; we won’t go there.
Someone said once (paraphrasing here);
You have accomplished nothing by besting a fool.
Anyway,…great post and keep up the good work!
Your mother-in-law sounds like my mom. She’s “always” voted Democrat, no matter what, defying all rhyme and reason. Even now, if I bring up the nonsense of Obama, she ducks her head and won’t say ANYTHING against him (but man, she’ll rip you a new one about McCain cheating on his first wife 20-plus years ago).
My dad is a staunch Republican and he and Ronald Reagan even share the same birthday (February 6). Guess you won’t be surprised if I tell you my parents divorced years ago. I take after dear old daddy…